Hitching device



(No Model.)

E. E. ALBIN.-

HITGHING DEVICE. No. 486,842.

flliornqys jnvnior I UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ELMER E. ALBIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

HITCHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,842, dated November29, 1892.

Application filed October 15, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ELMER E. ALBIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfie1d,in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in hitching-weights having a strapor similar connection adapted to be automatically drawn into the weightwhen not in use.

The object of my invention is to provide a hitching device of simpleconstruction the parts of which are so arranged as to be read ilyadjusted, and at the same time secure that ease of operation necessaryor desirable to secure efficient results.

My invention consists in the constructions and combinations of partshereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisapplication,Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a hitching deviceembodying my invention, the line on which the section is taken beingidentical with the parting-line of the respective halves of the casing,which is formed in two parts. Fig.2 is asectional view of the same,taken on line n 'y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my devicewith the casing removed down to line a: w of Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a detailview of the preferied manner of attaching the strap to the ree Likeparts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the severalviews.

In the said drawings, A A represent the weight proper, made in two partshollowed and joined to form a casing. The casing is parted on a linepassing through the centers of all the operating parts, therebycheapenin g construction and facilitating repairs. The respective halvesA A of said casing are secured together by suitable bolts or rivets a.Located within the casing is a reel B, having one end of a strap asecured thereto. This reel is provided with flanges a a formed integraltherewith, adapted to guide said strap a when coiled upon said reel.Formed with and projecting from the face of the flange a of the reel Bis a ratchet-wheel b, for the purpose hereinafter described. The reel Bis Serial No. @8344. (No model.)

loosely mounted on a stationary shaft 0, provided with square or oblongends 0 which rest in correspondingly-shaped depressions c in theadjoining faces of the respectivehalves of the casing A A.. Acoil-spring D, having one end secured to said shaft, is coiled about thesaid shaft. The remaining end of said spring is looped over one of aseries of pins 0 which project laterally from and at substantiallyequidistantpoints aboutthecircumference of the flange a of the reel B.These pins 0 are also adapted to prevent the spring D from expandingbeyond the periphery of the flange or, of the reel B. Pivotally mountedabove the shaft 0 is a bailE, having inwardlybent trunnions e e, restingin oppositely-located depressions cl, formed in the adjoining faces ofthe respective halves of the casing A A. Formed on the end of thetrunnion e is a detent projection 6 adapted to act upon theratchet-wheel b as a detaining-pawl when the bail is in the positionshown in Fig. 1 and dotted in Fig. 2, and thus prevents the strap onfrom being wound up when the bail E is in a position for transportingthe weight, as shown in Fig. 2. The detent e of the bail-E is oscillatedout of engagement with the ratchet b, which permits the tension of thespring D, caused by the strap abeing unwound, to coil said strap 01.around the reel B, the flanges a a of said reel and the hole g, throughwhich said strap a passes, guiding said strap and preventing it fromtwisting or kinking in coiling.

.To prevent the bail E from dropping by the action of gravity to theposition opposite that shown in Fig. 3 and thus compel the operator toraise-the bail E and place itin the position shown in Fig. 1, in orderthat its detent e may engage with the ratchet b, I provide a lug eprojecting from the part A of the casing and adapted to engage thedetent e for retaining said bail E within the limits as defined by thepositions of the bail E. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.)

The preferred manner of attaching the strap a to the reel B will now bereferred to, reference being had to Figs. 1, 4, and 5. In the end of thestrap a, is formeda hole b, adapted to receive a pin b cast with saidreel B. Said strap a is then wound once around said reel, and atwo-pronged riveting-tank b is then driven through two layers of saidstrap and clinched against the reel, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The end 0 of the shaft 0 nearest the spring D, I make, preferably,oblong, while the opposite end is formed square in order that the reel Bmay be threaded over said square end 0 The object is that inconstruction and when the casing is open for repairs said ohlong end 0prevents the tension of the spring D from forcing the operative partsout of the part A.

The interior surface of the wall which forms the bottom of the casing AA slopes inwardly and downwardly to a central point, where a hole 9' isformed through said casing to permit dust, moisture, and other foreignsubstances to readily pass therethrough.

The bail E, being pivoted in the casing, forms a yielding handle, whichis not aptto be broken in rough usage and which permits the weightedcasing to oscillate on its bailbearings when subject to sudden movement.The arrangement of the bail and pawl or detent provides a convenientconstruction for releasing the reel to permit the spring to wind up thestrap when the bail is raised for lifting the weight into a vehicle orotherwise.

Having now described my invention, I claim In a hitching device, thecombination of a reel having integral flanges and a strap adapted tocoil thereon, a ratchet-wheel on said reel, a bail pivoted in the casing0n journals, one of which extends into said casing and is provided witha detent projection formed integral therewith and adapted to engage saidratchet by the weight of said bail when released, a projecting lug onthe casing forming a stop to keep said detent from reversing, arigidly-secured shaft for said reel, the ends of which are fitted intoholding-recesses in said casing, a coil-spring attached at one end tosaid shaft and at the remaining end to one of a series of pins arrangedat different points about the circumference of the reel, and atwopartcasing to form an open or split bearing for the shaft and hail,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day ofSeptember, A. D. 1891.

ELMER E. ALBIN.

Witnesses: 1

OHAsE STEWART, PAUL A. STALEY.

